Raoul Moat: The seven day manhunt that gripped the nation in 2010

By ITV News Multimedia Producer Suban Abdulla

In July 2010, the UK was gripped by what would become the nation’s biggest manhunt, when Raoul Moat, a former nightclub bouncer, seriously injured his ex-girlfriend, killed her partner and the following day blinded a police officer.  

On the 10-year anniversary, ITV aired an hour-long documentary detailing the events of Moat’s two-day shooting rampage and the subsequent manhunt.  

The former bouncer, 37, from Newcastle was released from Durham prison on July 1, 2010, where he had served an 18-week sentence for assaulting a nine-year-old family member.  

Watch Emma Murphy's video report from July 10, 2010

What happened?

Two days later in the early hours of July 3, 2010, he targeted his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, leaving her with life-changing injuries and killing her partner Christopher Brown.  

On July 4, Moat, who is said to have had a grudge against the police because Ms Stobart lied about being in a relationship with an officer, shot and permanently blinded Pc David Rathband, who was sat in his patrol car. 

Pc Rathband, who took his own life in 2012, was targeted randomly because he was an officer, but it was later discovered that he had a previous encounter with Moat in an unrelated matter.  

Mr Moat shot all three victims, near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. 

The manhunt

After the attacks Moat went on the run for a week, and Northumbria Police started a major operation in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.  

Sniper teams, 160 armed officers, helicopters, dogs and armoured anti-terrorist vehicles were all deployed during the chase.   

As the manhunt ensued, Moat is said to have threatened police with calls from pay phones, saying he would kill officers if they tried to stop him, and posting his thoughts in a conversation on Facebook.

Police believed Moat posed a risk to the public and while the search was underway, they found many abandoned campsites where it is thought he had slept rough.

During the manhunt police officers were positioned outside schools and several people were arrested on suspicion of trying to help him.  

The pursuit ended after seven days when Moat was recognised by police in Rothbury.  

After being cornered and a six-hour standoff with the police, Raoul Moat died by suicide and was pronounced dead at the scene on July 10, 2010.  

Manhunt: The Raoul Moat Story airs on ITV at 9pm on Thursday 9 July - or watch on the ITV Hub